CROOKS: EPILEPSY IS NOT THE END
NORTHAMPTON midfielder Matt Crooks has opened up about the challenge of coping with epilepsy as a professional athlete.
Crooks, 24, was diagnosed while at Huddersfield’s academy aged 18 before going on to play for six more clubs – he has been with the Cobblers since July 2017.
He had his first seizure on a night out with two Terriers team-mates, who at first thought he was dying.
“They thought I was playing around at first but then realised it was quite serious,” Crooks told BBC Look East.
A brain scan later revealed that he had generalised epilepsy, which forced him to take it “a bit more seriously”.
After searching for another footballer with epilepsy, Crooks connected with former Cambridge centre-half Leon Legge, 33.
He said: “I remember him (Legge) saying to just try to go about it as normal as possible, and to keep doing what you’re doing.
“That helped me enormously at the time – it just gave me that confidence that I could go on and achieve something.”
Both Crooks’ parents are deaf and his father Dave played internationally as part of the Great Britain Deaf squad, something Crooks cites as an inspiration after his diagnosis.
He has also been seizure-free for more than 18 months, his last episode occurring on the way to a training session with Rangers.
“My dad’s been a central part of me playing football,” he said.
“Obviously, I don’t know what happened (the last time) but I remember waking up in the changing room and the lads being around me, and just being in and out of it.
“I know sometimes it can get tough but just go out and live your life and do it to the best of your ability, and enjoy yourself.”